Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid continued rolling to the top of the podium this afternoon, winning the Oslo Holmenkollen Men’s 10 km Sprint in 25:21.4 for his fourth consecutive individual win. The single-penalty winner actually has topped the podium in six consecutive competitions adding in the Kontiolahti Relay and Otepää Single Mix, stretching his consecutive podium streak to twelve.

Sprint Score to Laegreid

Laegreid’s victory netted the Norwegian his first World Cup Sprint Score Crystal Globe, his sixth discipline globe, with one in each of the four disciplines. He tied for first in the Sprint Score with Sweden’s Sebastian Samuelsson, but won the tiebreaker with two victories to the Swede’s one.

“Didn’t expect to do so well”

Laegreid was a bit overwhelmed with his streaks. “Wow, a lot of records! It is amazing. I am just thinking about one race at a time, once day at a time. Today I just wanted to give my all. My family and friends are here and it’s the first race of the weekend. Didn’t expect to do it so well. It’s crazy!”

“Someone up there is helping me”

The Sprint Globe was on his mind, but he felt it was out of reach. “I was thinking about it yesterday, the only globe that I don’t have, but it was too many points. Just do a good race and after the mistake in prone today, I thought I would go for a good pursuit. looks like someone up there is helping me, so…thanks!”

Total Score Globe to Perrot

France’s Emilien Jacquelin finished second, 3.9 seconds back with one penalty. Yellow Bib Eric Perrot, also with one penalty finished third, 4.6 seconds back.

Perrot’s third place assured him the World Cup Total Score Crystal Globe. His first win in the seasonal battle for supremacy makes him the fifth French winner in that category behind Patrice Bailly Salins, Raphael Poirée, Martin Fourcade and Quentin Fillon Maillet. The 24-year-old Perrot earlier secured the Individual and Mass Start Score small Crystal Globes, with the Pursuit Score to be decided tomorrow. France’s Emilien Jacquelin continued to excel, shooting and skiing with abandon in second place, 3.9 seconds back with one penalty. Yellow Bib Eric Perrot, also with one penalty finished third, 4.6 seconds back.

Sweden’s Martin Ponsiluoma, with two penalties, finished fourth, 21.9 seconds back. Laegreid’s teammate Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen, with two penalties finished fifth, 27.6 seconds back while a third Norwegian, Johan-Olav Botn, with one penalty finished sixth, 31.3 seconds back.

Nations Cup to Norway

Norway returned to the top of the Nations Cup after ceding the title to France last season. The Norwegians, with their eighth win in the past nine seasons, turned the tables this year, scoring 7466 points to France’s 7027.

Start Order adjusted; Laegreid wins in Last Loop

Today was another mild 8-degree day in Oslo; accordingly, the start order was adjusted, putting the Blue Group out first instead of mid-field. Jacquelin skied the first loop fast, shooting clean, taking the lead that he held through standing. Laegreid, after a prone miss, cleaned standing, closing the gap to two seconds. Laegreid skied better than Jacquelin on the last loop, nipping him by 3.9 seconds, with Perrot third.

Photos: IBU/Nordnes, Yevenko, Nordic Focus